Meta Faces Global Wave of Lawsuits Over Platform Design and Impact on Youth
Marthe van der Wolf
Meta is facing a global wave of lawsuits and regulatory actions over allegedly addictive platform designs and their harmful effects on young users. The first federal trial in a multi-state U.S. case began in California on August 11, with potential damages reaching $1.4 trillion. Similar challenges are underway in Europe, the U.K., Australia, Brazil, and Kenya.
On August 11, the first federal trial in a multi-state U.S. lawsuit against Meta—the company that owns Facebook and Instagram—officially began in California. This case is part of a broader wave of legal and regulatory challenges the tech giant faces in the U.S., Europe, and many other countries.
The plaintiff states accuse Meta of engineering addictive social media platforms that harm young people's mental health. If they prevail, Meta could face damages of up to $1.4 trillion and be forced to significantly change how its platforms operate. State attorneys general have also voiced concerns about how Meta collects data from young users without guardian consent.
The U.S. Lawsuit
Twenty-nine U.S. states have banded together to sue Meta over platform designs that “encourage addictive behavior, fail to verify user ages, allow teens to bypass parental controls, provide inadequate protection from harmful content, and deliberately amplify damaging material.” Meta denies these allegations.
The first four states to file federal suits in 2023—California, Kentucky, Colorado, and New Jersey—will present their arguments in court starting August 11. The states are demanding Meta implement parental verification for teen users, alter addictive algorithms, remove photo filters, ban multiple accounts, and end “disappearing” message features.
Jury selection wrapped up last week. The trial is expected to last about seven weeks. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is anticipated to testify alongside Instagram leadership. This marks Zuckerberg's second court appearance of the year, following a February trial in Los Angeles where Meta lost a similar case.
Analysts regard the California case as particularly significant compared to other U.S. lawsuits. Earlier in August, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million and change how its platforms operate for young users in that state. A separate trial involving 14 other states is scheduled for February 2027.
Pressure in Europe and the U.K.
The European Union (EU) is pursuing multiple lawsuits and regulatory measures against Meta concerning antitrust rules for AI on WhatsApp, child protection, and addictive features under the Digital Services Act (DSA). In 2024, the EU opened a formal investigation into Meta over potential breaches of child safety rules on Facebook and Instagram. Last month, the European Commission preliminarily concluded that Meta violates the DSA by designing “addictive” platforms and failing to adequately assess health risks for users.
The U.K. has announced a ban on social media for children under 16, set to take effect next year. Meanwhile, U.K. Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza has called on the government to strengthen restrictions for those under 18, including curfews, advertising bans, and limits on scrolling.
Reactions in Australia, Brazil, and Kenya
In Australia, the social media ban for under-16s, effective from December 2025, is already showing shortcomings. A study by the country's internet regulator found that more than 80% of teenagers still use social media three months after the ban, largely due to ineffective age verification systems.
Brazil is also pursuing class-action lawsuits totaling $525 million against Meta, TikTok, and Kwai, alleging algorithms that encourage unchecked scrolling and a lack of mental health warnings. Since March, Brazil has required platforms to link accounts of children under 16 to guardians.
In Kenya, the Supreme Court has affirmed jurisdiction to hear a $2.4 billion lawsuit against Meta, alleging Facebook's algorithms amplified content inciting ethnic violence during the conflict in Ethiopia. Meta also faces another lawsuit from former content moderators.
Experts believe these lawsuits, rather than completely undermining platforms, will force them to reform features and tighten age checks, thereby reshaping the social media landscape. If platforms fail to self-regulate, public pressure could lead to more forceful bans, encouraging a more diverse market with platforms less reliant on personalized algorithms.
